Malawi Catholic Bishops pays courtesy call on Pres. Mutharika
Bishops of the influential Catholic Church in Malawi on Thursday paid a courtesy call on President Professor Peter Mutharika at the Mtunthama State Lodge in Lilongwe.
The Bishops delegation, which was headed by the head of the church in the country, Bishop Joseph Zuza, chairperson of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) and bishop for Mzuzu Diocese, also met State Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima – a devout Catholic.
Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi Fr. George Bulaya said the Bishop’s meeting with Mutharika was “a courtesy call” which is traditional to the ECM when there is a new leader.
Addressing the bishops, President Mutharika said his government was open to dialogue with religious leaders, noting that both the government and the church had a complementary role of serving the people.
He thanked the Catholic Church for constructively engaging the government in dialogue that was beneficial to the country.
President Mutharika also spoke of his programmes to fight unemployment, poverty and insecurity.
Mutharika acknowledging the stance of the Catholic Church, particularly on many governance and democratic issues, such as human rights, good governance and the provision of social services.
Speaking at the meeting, Zuza thanked President Mutharika for meeting with the delegation and wished his government success.
The bishops assured the President that they were always ready to work with the Government in a bid to find solutions to the country’s challenges.
In their last issued pastoral letter, the bishops said Malawi needs “quality leadership that is capable of sacrificing self-interests for the common good.”
Other bishops in the delegation included Tarcisius Ziyaye of LiLongwe Archdiocese, Thomas Msusa Blantyre Archdiocese; Peter Musikuwa of Chikhwawa Diocese, Emmanuel Kanyama of Dedza Diocese; Alessandro Pagani of Mangochi Diocese, Reverend Montfort Stima of Mangochi and and Dr. Martin Mtumbuka of Karonga Diocese.
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